Deaths in police custody

To date there have been 1718 deaths in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police in England & Wales since 1990

Below is a breakdown of deaths in police custody or following other forms of contact with the police, as well as vehicular pursuits and road traffic incidents (RTIs) since 1990, by calendar year (January-December) and type.

You can also find further breakdowns of this data on the following pages:

Total deaths in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police, England & Wales, 1990-date

Type

Metropolitan Police

Other forces

Total

Custody

273

829

1102

Pursuit

54

349

403

RTI

25

117

142

Shooting

29

42

71

All deaths

381

1337

1718

Deaths in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police, England & Wales 1990-date

Year

Type

Metropolitan Police

Other Forces

Total

2019

Custody

2

7

9

Pursuit

4

6

10

RTI

4

1

5

Shooting

0

2

2

Total

10

16

26

2018

Custody

4

16

20

Pursuit

0

15

15

RTI

0

5

5

Shooting

1

0

1

Total

5

36

41

2017

Custody

4

21

25

Pursuit

4

10

14

RTI

1

8

9

Shooting

4

2

6

Total

13

41

54

2016

Custody

4

18

22

Pursuit

4

17

21

RTI

0

1

1

Shooting

0

4

4

Total

8

40

48

2015

Custody

6

21

27

Pursuit

0

4

4

RTI

1

2

3

Shooting

2

1

3

Total

9

28

37

2014

Custody

4

22

26

Pursuit

1

2

3

RTI

0

2

2

Shooting

1

0

1

Total

6

26

32

2013

Custody

1

16

17

Pursuit

6

7

13

RTI

0

1

1

Shooting

0

0

0

Total

7

24

31

2012

Custody

1

9

10

Pursuit

3

5

8

RTI

0

6

6

Shooting

0

1

1

Total

4

21

25

2011

Custody

3

20

23

Pursuit

1

6

7

RTI

0

1

1

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

5

28

33

2010

Custody

3

12

15

Pursuit

0

6

6

RTI

0

5

5

Shooting

0

1

1

Total

3

24

27

2009

Custody

4

11

15

Pursuit

1

7

8

RTI

3

2

5

Shooting

0

2

2

Total

8

22

30

2008

Custody

9

15

24

Pursuit

5

23

28

RTI

1

8

9

Shooting

2

1

3

Total

17

47

64

2007

Custody

6

23

29

Pursuit

3

11

14

RTI

2

4

6

Shooting

3

2

5

Total

14

40

54

2006

Custody

4

29

33

Pursuit

3

20

23

RTI

0

9

9

Shooting

1

0

1

Total

8

58

66

2005

Custody

9

33

42

Pursuit

3

33

36

RTI

2

7

9

Shooting

2

4

6

Total

16

77

93

2004

Custody

5

51

56

Pursuit

3

27

30

RTI

2

7

9

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

11

86

97

2003

Custody

12

50

62

Pursuit

1

28

29

RTI

0

11

11

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

14

90

104

2002

Custody

11

36

47

Pursuit

3

31

34

RTI

1

4

5

Shooting

0

2

2

Total

15

73

88

2001

Custody

9

25

34

Pursuit

1

25

26

RTI

1

8

9

Shooting

2

2

4

Total

13

60

73

2000

Custody

5

31

36

Pursuit

2

22

24

RTI

0

3

3

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

8

57

65

1999

Custody

15

32

47

Pursuit

1

7

8

RTI

0

5

5

Shooting

1

2

3

Total

17

46

63

1998

Custody

13

52

65

Pursuit

3

7

10

RTI

1

5

6

Shooting

0

2

2

Total

17

66

83

1997

Custody

15

43

58

Pursuit

1

16

17

RTI

3

5

8

Shooting

0

0

0

Total

19

64

83

1996

Custody

21

36

57

Pursuit

0

9

9

RTI

1

4

5

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

23

50

73

1995

Custody

12

36

48

Pursuit

1

1

2

RTI

0

1

1

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

14

39

53

1994

Custody

16

36

52

Pursuit

0

1

1

RTI

0

0

0

Shooting

0

1

1

Total

16

38

54

1993

Custody

17

19

36

Pursuit

0

2

2

RTI

0

0

0

Shooting

2

1

3

Total

19

22

41

1992

Custody

15

33

48

Pursuit

0

0

0

RTI

1

1

2

Shooting

1

2

3

Total

17

36

53

1991

Custody

24

36

60

Pursuit

0

1

1

RTI

0

1

1

Shooting

0

3

3

Total

24

41

65

1990

Custody

19

40

59

Pursuit

0

0

0

RTI

1

0

1

Shooting

1

1

2

Total

21

41

62

Source: INQUEST casework and monitoring

INQUEST's figures are derived from our monitoring and casework and are independent of those produced by the Home Office, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and other government agencies.

INQUEST defines police custody deaths as deaths that take place while the individual is in contact with police, whether or not they have been arrested, or that happen shortly after that contact. The death may not necessarily have occurred inside a police station. We do not include self-inflicted deaths following contact with police or deaths as a result of domestic violence where the police have been involved.

We provide free and independent advice to bereaved people following a death in state care or detention in England and Wales, and in other cases where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question.